Archive for the 'Events' Category

Search and Rescue are all volunteers who spend their own time and money to rescue strangers 24/7/365. We never charge for our services. Thanks for your support so we can purchase needed rescue gear that WILL save lives!

We’ll wash your car for any size donation on Saturday, July 23, from noon till 3:00.

As members of the Mountain Rescue Association, UCSSAR and other teams in the Intermountain Region must pass a reaccreditation test every two years (alternating winter and summer) to ensure that all teams maintain the highest technical standard for effectiveness and safety.

Utah County hosted the recert this year and teams from Utah, Idaho and Montana attended. The event was deemed a huge success as all teams passed the tests, renewed acquaintances, and went home with many prizes from generous donors.

A very special thanks is in order for the organizers who spent countless hours in preparation and hosting, and to our generous retail sponsors. Below are a few comments from participants and a thank you letter written by the MRA IR Summer Recert Chair and MRA Intermountain Region Chair Shaun Roundy:

From John Sohl of Weber County SAR:

We just completed the summer rock recert for the Intermountain Region. It went very smoothly and I’d like to thank Shaun Roundy (with back up by Mike V.) for doing such an excellent job of staging a recert that was both fun and challenging. Shaun and the entire Utah County Sheriff’s SAR team pulled off a smooth operation in spite of the fact that they had two search callouts at the same time as the recert of seven teams from the Intermountain Region was going on.Now that I’ve given myself a few days off from thinking about the recert, it’s time to send out my own thank you list to everyone who helped our event turn out so successfully.

From Shaun Roundy:

Thanks, John.

West Barton, along with Dale Barnett and others of Utah County Sheriff VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service / Jeep Patrol) for doing an AMAZING job with the food. Not just preparing, but planning, shopping for items on sale, and choosing menu items like prime rib, steak and everything sandwiches, etc. Mm, mmm.

Russel Black of UCSSAR for heading up the Swag Committee and rounding up so many great prizes from our sponsors to give away to participants, along with all the committee members who spent so many hours at the Outdoor Retailer Show and elsewhere and did such a great job.

Chris Johnson for the superb-looking signs directing traffic and thanking our sponsors. He’s making 7 more of the Life Flight one because everyone there is fighting over it!

Leon Milroy, Area Manager for American Land and Leisure for superb hospitality in providing our campsites and group site.

Dr. Keith Hooker, Utah County SAR Medical Control, for making us laugh and reminding us not to stress out too much over our sometimes-demanding volunteer positions.

IHC Life Flight for sending one of their hoist helicopters for tagline training.

Mark Patey of UCSSAR for bringing his helicopter for the search scenario and flying members of other teams around.

Bruce Riddle, Alan Wakefield, and other ICS members and Scenario Committee members of UCSSAR for designing all testing scenarios.

Deputy Collin Gordon, Sergeant Tom Hodgson, and many Utah County SAR volunteers for taking numerous assignments large and small.

UCSSAR Commander Jared Hansen for providing various area maps.

UCSSAR Chris Reed for setting up a GPS course of 300-year-old (?) Spanish petroglyphs with cool tokens for anyone who magically found some spare time.

A group of SAR members trained for the MRA Intermountain Region winter recertification which is required every five years, and passed all tests with a near-perfect score near Victor, Idaho this weekend.

We express our gratitude to Bonneville County SAR for hosting a fantastic recert, and to all other MRA and especially Intermountain Region teams for the positive association we share.

The conference was packed with mountaineering and mountain rescue legends like Dick Poole, the last living organizer of the MRA in 1959, Jim Whittaker, a member of the first American ascent of Everest, and others. Enjoying stories and movies of the early days of mountain rescue in America, hearing the praise for these pioneers and their praise for our continuing efforts, being reminded of the many sacrifices – including the ultimate sacrifice made by many rescuers who were honored, and sharing in the commaraderie that the MRA enhances among the rescue community all contributed to a greater appreciation for and pride in this vocation.

Many technical symposiums were also given to disseminate the latest technical rescue and gear information, a business meeting was held, and Shaun climbed Hood early Saturday morning.